03-Strength of the Mate (5 page)

Granger shook his head in the negative.

“What did you say?” Rivers shouted, leaning further into Granger’s face. “I can’t hear you!”

Granger flinched. “No!” Resentment rolled off him in waves.

Shit. Dawson had just made an enemy. What the hell was he thinking? Adam knew it was stupid to worry about Dawson, ‘cause he obviously could take care of himself.

“Good! Now get the hell out of my face! Go! Now, now, now! Get the fuck out of here!” Rivers followed for several steps when Granger began to retreat. When it was clear Granger wasn’t going to say or do anything, Dawson stopped his pursuit.

Adam released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Rivers turned sharply on his heel and headed back in their direction. He looked calm. His posture was relaxed. When he got close, Adam saw that his eyes were back to their usual color. It was like he hadn’t just picked a fight with another werewolf.

“Thank you, Gunny Rivers,” Borovec said as Rivers passed him.

Dawson gave him a brief nod in acknowledgment.

“That was fucking badass, Gunny,” Mercer said with a hint of awe. “Thank you.”

“It’s about time someone put that asshole in his place.” Jason’s tone was fierce.

“Gentlemen, enjoy the care packages, and have yourselves a good night.” Dawson’s voice was smooth and friendly. He nodded at each of the Marines.

Adam had no idea what had just happened. Rivers looked completely unruffled. As he turned to walk away, his eyes met Adam’s directly. One corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. Adam’s face flushed again. Pleasure zinged through his belly, his balls tightened, and his cock shifted in his briefs.

As he watched Dawson’s retreating back, Adam felt weirdly alone.

“’Night, Gunny,” Borovec called.

“Have a good night, Gunny,” Jason shouted, not bothering to suppress a huge grin.

“What in the fuck just happened?” asked Allen. His confused tone reflected exactly how Adam felt.

“That was our pack Omega being a motherfucking badass,” Mercer replied. “He could probably take over as pack leader without issuing Challenge.”

“You guys want Rivers to be your pack leader?” Allen asked.

“I’d settle for the Omega keeping peace and blocking conflict to get Granger back in line,” answered Jason. “But I wouldn’t mind Rivers taking over as pack leader.”

“That would be fucking awesome.” Paul’s voice held a note of awe, along with enthusiasm. “I’ve been thinking, though, why would he even consider giving up being Omega to Noah Hammond? He’ll probably mentor someone into becoming pack leader, then head back to Pendleton.”

Jason’s reply sounded resigned. “It sucks that you’re probably right.”

“Come on,” Adam said, needing to turn the subject away from Dawson Rivers. “Let’s get the care package distributed before it gets dark.” He headed in the direction of his hooch.

“Did you see that shit?” Borovec asked excitedly. “Gunny sent Granger running with his tail tucked, and he didn’t even touch him.”

“Adam was impressed with what he saw.” Jason’s tone was teasing.

A chill swept through Adam’s body. He glanced sharply at Rodriguez. Jason watched him with that annoying fucking smile. Adam’s stomach plunged. Now he knew what that damn smile meant.

“Adam can’t be impressed with what he saw, ’cause he didn’t understand what he saw.” Adam thought he sounded pretty disinterested, as he dug in his front pocket for his door key. He hoped like hell Jason would shut the fuck up.

“I call bullshit,” Paul said with a laugh. “Your brother knows as much about us as we know about ourselves.”

And there it was. “I’m not my brother, and I don’t know shit,” he snapped.

“I don’t know shit about shifters, either,” Roger said. “But I do know I don’t want to fuck with Gunnery Sergeant Rivers. I had drill sergeants in Boot Camp that were less scary.”

Adam was relieved when the Marines laughed. They seemed to be moving on to a new topic. As much as he wanted to avoid the topic all together, he needed to talk to Jason alone. How in the hell did he know how Adam felt about certain things? Adam could hardly admit to himself that he could even feel anything.

Inside Adam’s hooch, they quickly divided the care package items equally between the four shipping boxes. Paul, Jason, Roger and Will each took a box back to their own hooches. They’d share everything with the battalion tomorrow.

Adam stood outside of Jason’s hooch as he waved goodnight to the others. When they were alone, he turned to find Jason giving him that annoying smile.

“What’s with the smartass smile, all of sudden?” he demanded. “And the smartass comments about me being impressed?”

Jason laughed openly. “Dude, whenever Gunny Rivers is around, your pheromones spike so high, you smell like a thirteen-year-old boy.”

Adam refused to be goaded. “That’s such bullshit,” he said, frowning.

“Mercer and Borovec can smell it, too,” replied Jason. “They just don’t care enough to give you shit about it.”

Adam snorted, scoffing openly. He refused to play Jason’s game. “There’s nothing to give me shit about. Which is why your stupid game is getting old, fast.” He wasn’t going to let Jason trick him into admitting anything.

Jason studied him closely for several long moments. “Do you seriously not know?” Jason finally asked incredulously.

“Not know what?” Adam demanded impatiently.

Jason frowned. “How do you not know this about werewolves?” he sounded genuinely baffled.

“I am not my brother,” Adam said coldly. “I’m not even close with my brother.” He threw up his hands in frustration.

Jason sighed heavily. “Brah, werewolves have strong senses of sight, sound, and smell. We’re stronger than humans. When Rivers is around, your heart beats faster, and the scent of your arousal fills the air.”

Adam shook his head emphatically. “You’ve only been around Rivers and me one time. You have no clue what you’re talking about.”

Jason frowned, looking confused. He was silent for several seconds. “Adam, man, we don’t have to be in our wolf forms to use all of our strengths.”

Fuck. The world spun around Adam. His private thoughts weren’t even private with weres around. Why the hell had he started hanging out with werewolves? That was the dumbest thing he’d ever done.

“I didn’t know you didn’t know,” Jason said quietly. “It’s pretty basic. Are we the first weres you’ve been friends with?”

Adam scrubbed his hands over his face. “Yes!” He buried his fingers in his hair. “I haven’t met very many shifters before,” he replied. Christ, he sounded defeated to his own ears. “And I really like you guys. I hardly ever think about the fact three of you are werewolves.”

“I wouldn’t have given you shit if I’d known.” Jason sounded honestly apologetic. “I just thought it was funny that Major Madison’s brother has a thing for a werewolf.”

“Great,” Adam muttered. “How do you guys deal with everyone in your pack knowing everything you think and feel?”

Jason shook his head sharply. “It’s not like that for us. We’re born with these strong senses. Most of the time, we don’t even notice the things we sense, unless we need to focus on them.”

“So, you can decide to tune out what you…sense…about me?” Adam asked hesitantly. God, he hoped so.

Making a waffling motion with his hand, Jason said, “Close enough. I promise, I’ll avoid paying attention to what my wolf senses pick up, and I’ll stop giving you shit. If the rest of the guys notice, they won’t even care. Unless you and Rivers start something up, and make an official announcement.”

“Not gonna happen.” Adam knew he’d spoken a little too quickly.

“Whatever,” Jason said dismissively. “Forget I said anything. You’re an all right guy. You have no idea what that care package is gonna mean to the battalion. I just want things to be good with us.”

That’s all Adam wanted, too.

“We’re good, man,” he replied. He held out his hand. Jason grasped it in that casual, urban way the younger Marines did. “I guess I’m just kinda private.”

“Say no more. I’ll tell the guys to try to stay out of your head. See you at the gym tomorrow?” Jason asked.

“You bet.”

As Adam headed through the dark toward his hooch, he felt some small measure of relief. He still didn’t understand his weird reactions to Rivers, but with any luck, their paths wouldn’t cross all that often.

CHAPTER FOUR

Rubbing his thumb and forefinger over his eyes, Adam tried to scrub away his tiredness. He was still rattled from his talk with Jase…Jason, he quickly corrected himself. He’d slept like shit.

Adam hardly ate anything at the dining hall. His stomach was one giant knot. At least his second cup of coffee got his blood pumping. Adam decided to head for the gym, even though he wasn’t sure being around the weres was a smart idea. But it’s what he’d normally do, and suddenly avoiding the Marines he’d become friends with might look suspicious.

Jason had promised the werewolves would stay out of his head. He’d known Jason for several months now, and was pretty sure he was a good guy, so there was no reason not to trust him. Trusting himself to be around Dawson Rivers was the real problem.

Panic gripped Adam with its icy hand. He stopped in his tracks, chest heaving with every breath. “Oh, fuck.”

Dawson Rivers was a werewolf.

Adam nearly doubled over. Rivers’ direct gaze and flirty smiles weren’t random. He was as aware of Adam’s reactions to him as Jason and the rest of the shifters. He probably enjoyed fucking with Adam, just because he could.

He turned around to head back to his hooch. Adam didn’t give a fuck if people thought he was rude, he was damn well going to avoid Rivers’ company.

The thought of spending all day alone, inside his sweltering trailer, didn’t hold the appeal it used to. Adam had really started to enjoy the company of his new friends. Damn Dawson Rivers, getting his jollies from torturing Major Madison’s brother.

Adam’s pride stopped him from retreating. He wasn’t gonna let Rivers drive him to hiding out in his hooch. As Operations Chief for the 3/3, Rivers wouldn’t have time to fuck around in the gym.

He was still several yards away when Adam heard laughter coming from the gym. There were several shouts, and more laughter. It all sounded friendly and fun. The crowd inside was definitely larger than it usually was, except on…

The day of the full moon.

Shit. Adam had no excuse for forgetting the full moon run was tonight. There were no convoys scheduled for the next three days. He took a deep breath, reaching for the door. If it was too crowded inside, or too many people paid attention to him, Adam would leave.

He opened the door to the roar of dozens of voices. The room was hot and still. The werewolves’ bodies ran hotter than humans. So many of them in one poorly ventilated room made it more miserable than usual. They never seemed to notice, though, especially the day of the full moon.

As the door closed behind him, Adam scanned the room for Paul, Will and Jason. Marines, drenched in sweat, strained and grunted as they lifted weights. Most had removed their shirts. Adam knew even more of them would, as the day progressed. He swallowed hard at the sight of so many heavily muscled bodies, tan skin glistening with sweat.

One of those strong, sweaty, shirtless Marines was Dawson Rivers. He stood with a heavy dumbbell in each hand. Staring into the middle distance, Rivers extended his powerful arms to the side, lifting the weights to shoulder height. With each rep, he blew a harsh breath through his full, sensual lips. Rivers’ face flushed with exertion. Adam’s mouth went dry at the sight of bulging, striated muscle straining beneath smooth, sweat-slick skin.

Another Marine took the dumbbells from Rivers. Dawson walked in circles, shaking out his hands and rolling his neck. He took several deep breaths, drawing Adam’s eyes to his well-muscled chest. His broad back and shoulders tapered into a narrow waist and lean hips. Adam pictured himself dragging his tongue the length of Rivers’ spine, tasting warm skin and sweat. His cock ached, pushing hard against his fly. He’d never seen any Marine’s ass look as good in those camo-colored uniform pants as Dawson’s did.

Still walking in a circle, Rivers turned until he was facing Adam. The dips and ridges of his abdomen made Adam’s knees weak. The waist of his pants hung low, giving Adam a prime view of that special place on men, just below his hipbones.

He needed to get the hell out of here before someone noticed him. Adam started to turn and reach for the door handle.

Dawson Rivers spotted him before he could make his escape. Adam froze, his gaze locking with Dawson’s. That sinful mouth curved into a playful smirk, a mischievous sparkle lighting his eyes. Cocking a hip to the side, Dawson put his hands on his hips. He stood smiling at Adam, as if they were the only two men in the room.

“Madison!”

Adam jumped at the sound of his name. He turned toward the shout, hoping he didn’t look as caught-out as he felt. Jason motioned him over. Paul and Will were with him. They had a bench and a weight bar set up for chest presses.

On shaky legs, Adam started toward them.

“All you useless fuckers need to thank Adam Madison for looking after your sorry asses,” Mercer shouted. He and Rodriguez both glanced around the room, probably making sure the Marines paid attention.

The room erupted in cheers. Several men stepped up onto benches, applauding Adam. Some clapped, others whistled shrilly. Adam pressed through the crowd, heading for Paul and Jason. As he passed, Marines reached out to shake his hand. Some slapped him roughly on the back. They all thanked him.

Adam blushed at the attention. He tried not to fidget. He shook hands, smiled, and told everyone they were welcome. It’s how his mom had told him to handle things like this. As much as Adam hated being the focus of the entire group, he was happy the Marines had found a little pleasure in something, way out here in the desert. They worked hard, risked their lives, and tried to keep Adam’s ass safe. They deserved more than candy and clean socks.

Reaching the bench where Will was getting ready for his set, Adam was relieved the Marines all turned back to their workouts.